Hong Kong’s U20s team will make its fourth consecutive appearance at the World Rugby U20 Trophy (29 Aug. – 10 Sep.) in Uruguay. Hong Kong is in Pool B alongside Fiji, Portugal and Uruguay, with its first match coming against Fiji on Wednesday, (30 Aug., 03.00). Pool A features Japan, Namibia, Canada and Chile.

After hosting the first ever World Rugby U20 Trophy held in Asia in 2014, Hong Kong qualified outright for the following three competitions by winning the Asia Rugby title, played at U19s level.

Hong Kong broke their World Rugby U20 Trophy duck last year, beating hosts Zimbabwe for their first win at this elite international competition. Coach Andrew Hall and the squad will be hoping to continue that momentum in Uruguay.

“With the five-year eligibility ruling, our U20s become even more important as a talent pool for the senior squad and this is a huge oporutnity for players to put their hands up. We had eight former U20s in the test series winning squad in Kenya, which shows how vital this programme is,” Hall emphasised.

Hall’s squad features seven players returning from last year’s campaign, with prop Ken Encarnacion and Racing 92 academy back Matt Worley marking their third World Rugby U20 Trophy competitions.

Scrumhalf Mark Coebergh is another player who has translated his U20s performance into a regular spot in the HKRU Premiership league and the fringes of national selection; he will captain the squad on tour. The squad also features winger Marcus Ramage who played for Hong Kong in the recent two-test series in Kenya.

“There’s a good mix of experience in the backs with some significant 'new-blood' up front,” said Hall, who hailed Max Denmark as a forward to watch with the just turned 18-year old No.8 clocking a sub 12-second 100-metres time.

“This is a great competition to expose players to the higher demands of an international tournament,” said Hall, who can also call upon other x-factor players like Matt Worley.

Hall’s expectations are high: “We expect players to display consistent high performance behaviours, the kind of behaviours that will make me - in my role as head of the Elite Rugby Programme - turn my head.”

The first opportunity to impress will come against Fiji on Wednesday morning Hong Kong time.

“Fiji have big, athletic players who are dangerous in the counter attack and deadly if we turn the ball over. We have worked diligently on minimising these threats and possession and territory are obvious areas of the game that we will need to control against the Fijians,” said Hall.

To that end, the squad worked alongside members of the ERP and scrimmaged with both the men’s and women’s fifteens squads in the build-up.

“It’s been a bit of a challenge with players arriving into town sporadically over their summer breaks, while injuries and unavailability have also impacted selection. We’ve had to be very careful in managing the players’ workload, particularly the 10 members of the squad that were involved in the U20s sevens campaign.

“We’ve prepared using a similar training philosophy to the senior men’s team and have drawn on the coaching expertise of people like Leigh Jones and Craig Hammond. ERP players have also been involved, not only as a coaching resource, but as ‘touchable heroes’ for our young aspiring players to look up to.”

Hong Kong squad for Fiji

3. Ken Encarnacion, 2. Jack SCANLON, 1. Lachlan OLIVER-KERBY, 4. Zachary BALDWIN, 5 Jacke BARLOW, 6 Gregor RAMAGE, 7. Oliver OVERMAN, 8. Max DENMARK, 9. Mark COEBERGH (captain), 10. Daniel ARCHER, 11. Austin ROBERTSHAW, 12. Alex NISBET, 13. Cameron SMITH, 14. James KARTON, 15. Matthew WORLEY, 16 Jay COOKE, 17. Thomas GIBB, 18. WONG Ho-ming, 19. Mikkel CHRISTENSEN, 20. Henry POON, 21. Paul ALTIER, 22. Daniel PUSACK

Hong Kong Squad: World Rugby U20 Trophy 2017

Paul ALTIER, Daniel ARCHER, Zachary BALDWIN, Jake BARLOW, Mikkel CHRISTENSEN, Mark COEBERGH (Captain), Jay COOKE, Max DENMARK, Oliver DUFFY, Ken ENCARNACION, Thomas GIBB, James KARTON, Alex NISBIT, Lachlan OLIVER-KERBY, Oliver OVERMAN, Henry POON Yau-him, Daniel PUSACK, Gregor RAMAGE, Marcus RAMAGE, Austin ROBERTSHAW, Jack SCANLON, Cameron SMITH, Thaddeus SUMMERS, TSOI Kin-san, WONG Ho-yin, Matthew WORLEY.